Milwaukee archdiocese to release thousands of pages of documents

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan says he welcomes release of information

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee said it will release about 3,000 pages of documents related to sexual abuse lawsuits that have been filed against it.

It said the documents include depositions given by New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who previously led the Milwaukee archdiocese, former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland and retired Bishop Richard Sklba.

Victims' advocates have accused church leaders of moving abusive priests around and covering up their crimes for decades.

The archdiocese had been fighting the release of the documents, and a hearing on the matter was scheduled for Thursday in U.S. bankruptcy court in Milwaukee.

The archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2011 to deal with about 500 sex abuse claims.

"My hope is by making these documents public, we will shed much-needed light on how the archdiocese responded to abuse survivors over the past 40-plus years when confronting this issue and that they will aid abuse survivors and others in resolution and healing," Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki said in a written statement.

Lawyers representing those people had been seeking the documents' public release.

Sklba said he agreed to have the Archdiocese of Milwaukee release a deposition he gave in sexual abuse cases as a way of getting out the truth.

Sklba said in a statement that he did his best to help abuse survivors and the documents may answer questions about his actions.

Dolan said he welcomes the release of documents.

He gave a deposition in February in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case involving the archdiocese that he once served. That deposition is among documents to be released.

In a statement, Dolan said he was glad to give his deposition and hopes the release of the documents will help in the healing of abuse survivors.

An attorney for the sexual abuse victims issued a statement Wednesday night saying they are pleased.

“This has been an important issue for abuse survivors, and it is a significant step as we work toward transparency," Jeff Anderson said.

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